A volcanic eruption (Volcan de Fuego) on Sunday, 3 June 2018 near the capital city of Guatemala created havoc with many dead and missing and thousands of families losing their land and crops. Multiple additional eruptions followed in the next couple of days. It was reported that a total of 1.7 million people in three states have been affected in some way.
As many as 110 people were reported as dead and about 200 people were reportedly missing. More than 3,500 people were evacuated in nearby cities and taken to shelters.
SSIO members started praying for the safety and well-being of all people in the affected areas immediately after the tragedy struck.
The SSIO of Guatemala was in immediate contact with authorities and a plan of action was drawn up within days. SSIO volunteers in the region delivered food to hundreds of people in four shelters and installed a water pump and laundry facility in another shelter.
